Evan Robert Jones

Evan Robert Jones: Evan passed away late Friday evening at the Grandview Heights Rehab and Healthcare in Marshalltown at the age of 89 years, 6 months, and 21 days. Evan's family includes a step-son, Ronald (Sue) McCurdy of Milton, WA; and a step-daughter, Mary Ann (Paul) Newman of Bloomington, MN; three step-grandchildren and eight step-great grandchildren; a niece, Alyce (James) Chance of Manilla, Iowa; a great niece, Susannah (Andy) Chance of Gilmanton Iron Works, N. H.; great nephews: Jeffrey Vivian) Chance of Denison, IA, James Jr. (Kris) Chance of Defiance, IA and Joseph Chance of Westphalia, IA and a dear companion, Merilyn Blair of Marshalltown. Evan R. Jones, son of William I. and Hannah Young Jones, was born April 29, 1920 in Hocking, Iowa a little mining community south of Albia. Evan attended Hocking schools and the family eventually moved to Albia after the mines played out. He attended Grant School in Albia and was a 1939 graduate of Albia High School. As a young child, trains had always intrigued Evan, so after his graduation, he was thrilled to be hired as brakeman for the M & St. L Railroad in Oskaloosa. He was drafted in the U.S. Army January 5, 1942; he served in Italy and Northern Africa, and served under General Patton. Following his discharge August 12, 1945, he returned to work at the M & St. L in Oskaloosa. The railroad suffered a decline in the late 60s so Evan began working for Rolscreen in Pella in 1969. He retired from there in 1982. March 13, 1969, he married Rosemary Finley McCurdy in Oskaloosa. They were able to travel to Italy to visit many of the places Evan had served during the war. They later moved to Marshalltown Iowa. When Rosemary's health started to fail, she became a resident of Grandview Care Facility; Evan faithfully attended to her needs until her death in January 2004. After her death, Evan continued as a volunteer at Grandview, where he developed a wonderful friendship with another volunteer, Merilyn Blair, who had also lost her spouse. In September, Evan health started to fail and he became a resident of Grandview Heights. Besides his parents and his wife, Rosemary, Evan was preceded in death by his brother, William Jones and his sisters, Mary Clester and Annie Wiley. PDF Printable Version

Evan Robert Jones

April 29, 1920 - November 20, 2009